Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS to charge admission for The Strip tests

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002 | 11:48 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Drag racing fans will have to pay for the opportunity to watch NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series professional and sportsman teams test at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next month.

When LVMS announced last month that it would host the Feb. 1-3 test, a track spokesman erroneously said the public would be admitted to the test at no charge. The speedway said this week that it would charge $15 per day for adults (or $40 for a three-day pass) and $5 per day for children ages 6-12.

Chris Blair, the director of drag racing operations at LVMS, said Wednesday that it was necessary to charge admission to cover insurance costs.

"Our primary reason (for charging admission) is the liability issue because it's so hard to keep spectators away from the crews (and the pits)," Blair said. "We have to charge something so we can offset our insurance costs ... and make sure that all our expenses are covered."

LVMS will not charge for admission to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Busch Series tests Jan. 28-31 at the 1.5-mile superspeedway because the public is not allowed in the garage or pits -- areas where the possibility of injury is higher. At The Strip, however, spectators have to walk through the pit area to get to the grandstands.

"When I saw that I was going to get to the point where I was going to have to charge (admission), we decided to add the "Run for the Money" event later in the afternoon for the sportsman racers so there would actually be some racing for the fans to watch," Blair said.

"I'm hoping this is something we can use to build (on). Tucson has a very successful (testing) program that they do and Phoenix has a very successful one and I'm hoping that we can get one started here, too."

The test is open to all NHRA professional and sportsman competitors and will afford teams a final test session prior to the season-opening Winternationals Feb. 7-10 in Pomona, Calif.

Cowin replaces Mike Dunn, who unexpectedly quit the team last week.

"Andrew has the tools to develop into one of the top drivers," team co-owner Darrell Gwynn said. "I'm confident that Andrew will quickly turn into a real favorite with our fans and sponsors."

Cowin, who became the youngest Top Fuel finalist in U.S. Nationals history in 1999, finished second to reigning champion Kenny Bernstein at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas last April.

"It has been my dream to have the opportunity to go head-to-head with the best in drag racing, full-time, and with no compromises," Cowin said. "Now, thanks to Gwynn/Steinbrenner Racing, that dream is coming true in ways I had never dreamed possible."

Gwynn/Steinbrenner Racing is a partnership between Darrell Gwynn and his father, Jerry, and Hank Steinbrenner and his father, George, owner of the New York Yankees.

"There has been lots of speculation and rumor about my future status with Gwynn/Steinbrenner Racing over the last few months," Dunn said in a press release. "Despite having a three-year contract, I was given notice last July that my services weren't going to be retained after the 2001 season.

"There has been no formal discussion between GSR and I to renegotiate a new agreement despite ample time to do so. With it now being January and my future still uncertain, I've decided to pursue other interests."

Also leaving GSR was Dunn's longtime crew chief Ken Veney, who has worked with Dunn for the past five years.

The SummitRacing.com Nationals, the first of two NHRA national events this year at The Strip, will be held April 4-7.